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H. H. FREY.

SPARK PLUG CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1918.

Patented Oct. 21, M19.

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HERBERT H. FREE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINUIS, ASSIGNGR T0 EMMA L. REYNOLDS, 0F GHICAGG, ILLINGIS.

SPARK-IEL'UG CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

continuation of application Serial No. 126,292, filed Ilctober 18, 1916. This application filed March 23, 1918.

- Serial No. $24,398.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT I-LFREY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Spark-Plug Cleaner; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to spark plug cleaners, and has for its object the provision of means for efi'ectively and quickly cleaning the electrodes of the plug without the necessity of disassembling the spark plug parts.

During the operation of a spark plug in an internal combustion engine the electrodes of the plug become covered with carbon deposits and if such deposits are not removed at the required intervals a faulty operation of the engine Will result. Furthermore, it the spark plug is so located in the internal combustion engine that it is subjected to lubricating oils the electrodes of the plug may become coated therewith and thus tail to operate properly.

It is the primary object of this invention to clean the spark plug of such carbon and oil deposits quickly and conveniently, and in accomplishing this result or object I provide a receptacle, preferably having the form or a tubular inclosure open at one end, to receive the spark plug to be cleaned.

Loosely carried within the inclosure I provide a plurality of impact members arranged, when this tube is shaken, to move longitudinally and strike against the electrodes of the spark plug which, after being inserted into the end of the tube, forms the end wall thereof. To remove the oil deposits from the electrodes and the carbon deposits which have been loosened by the impact members the receptacle contains a suitable cleaning fluid, such, for example, as gasolcne which, when the tube is shaken, comes in contact with the electrodes of the plug and thus thoroughly cleans them.

These and other objects of my invention will be more clearly brought out in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

2 is a side elcvational view of the spark plug cleaner and the cap therefor; and Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 2.

This application is filed as a continuation of my prior application filed October 18. 1916, Serial Number 126,292, and similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The receptacle which forms the container for the impact members and the cleaning fluid is preferably constructed of glass, as shown at 4. The upper or open end otthc tube 4 is flared outwardly at 5 to receive a resilient collar 6 made of cork or some composition of rubber. The resiliency ot' the member 6 makes it possible to insert practically any size spark plug, as illustrated in Fig.1, so that the electrodes thereof are subjected to whatever action takes place within the tube 4.

Loosely contained Within the tube 4 so as to have longitudinal movement relatively to the tube is a plurality of impact members 7, which, in the preferred form of my invention, take the form of steel needles having substantially the same width and length, as illustrated, and provided with square cut ends.

in cleaning a spark plug the cap Sis removed from the tube and a suitable cleaning fluid 9, preferably gesolene, poured into the tube to substantially the depth indi cated. The spark plug to be cleaned is then screw-threaded into the resilient collar 6 and the tube 4 shaken longitudinally. The longitudinal reciprocation of the tube 4 will splash the fluid 9 against the electrodes and cause the impact needles 7 to impinge against the electrodes and all portions of the spark plug which communicate with or face the inside of the tube. The needles 7 are made relatively thin and long so that although they have the weight to successfully loosen the carbon deposits they are enabled to reach all portions of the spark plug, as

indicated by the dotted line 10, from which the carbon is to be removed. After the spark plug is cleaned it is removed -from the tube 4 and the cap 8 placed over the open end of the tube, as illustrated in Fig. 2. If the cleaning fluid or gasolene 9 is to be removed from the tube it may be poured through the opening 11 provided in the cap. This opening is screened, as illustrated at 13, so that removal of the impact members is prevented during the process of discarding the cleaning fluid.

In stating that the device of my invention is adapted to clean the electrodes of the spark plug I wish it to be understood that the term electrodes is to be construed broadly so as to include not only the electrodes per 86 between which the spark is arranged to pass, but also those parts positioned adjacent the electrodes which, when covered with carbon depsits,-prevent the proper operation of the plug.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spark plug cleanin device, comprising a tube having one 611$ open for the reception and carrying ofa spark plug, with its electrode end exposed to the interior of.

the tube, and a plurality of needles loosely contained within the tube and adapted, when the tube and attached spark plug are shaken, to strike against the exposed end of the spark plug to remove carbon deposits therefrom.

2. A spark plug cleaning device, comprising a fluid container having one end open for the reception and carrying of a spark plug, with the electrode end of the spark plug exposed to the' interior of the container, and a plurality of metallic needles loosely disposed within the container and adapted, when the container and attached spark plug are shaken, to strike at their ends against the exposed end of the spark plug and cooperate with a liquid in the container to clean carbon deposits from the plug.

3. A spark plug cleaner, comprising a tube open at one'end, a resilient collar disposed in the open end of the tube and adapted to receive and cooperate with the tube to carry a spark plug, with its electrode end exposed to the interior of the tube, and a plurality of impact needles loosely contained within the tube and adapted, when the tube and attached spark plug are shaken, to strike against the exposed end of the spark plug to clean carbon deposits therefrom.

4. A spark plug cleaner, comprising a cylindrical cleaning fluid container, into the neck of which a spark plug may be closely fitted, with its electrode end exposed to the interior of the container, and a plurality of long slender wires having square cut ends disposed within the container, the length of the wires being greater than the inside diameter of the container, said wires serving to remove carbon deposits from the exposed spark plug end when the container and attached plug are shaken.

5. A spark plug cleaner, comprising a cylindrical fluid container having one end open and enlarged to form an internal shoulder and adapted to receive the threaded portion of a spark plug, with the inner wall of its shell substantially in longitudinal register with the inner wall of the container, a gasket on said shoulder, a plurality of impact needles disposed in said container and adapted, when the container and attached spark plug are shaken, to be driven endwise against the exposed end of the plug to remove carbon deposits therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT H. FREY. 

